At the Philips Hue annual showcase in Berlin on September 2, George Yianni, the company’s Chief Technology Officer and Founder, discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to enhance smart lighting systems. Yianni emphasized that the company applies AI only when it effectively solves user problems, rather than using AI for its own sake. One example of this approach is the SpatialAware feature, introduced last year. This feature uses AI to create lighting scenes based on the placement of lights in a room. It was developed in collaboration with lighting designers, who used a large language model to codify and scale the lighting design process. Another new AI-driven feature unveiled at the event is called Custom AI Behaviors. This allows users to describe how they want their Philips Hue lights to behave using natural language, such as “Make the lights dim when I come home on weekdays.” This eliminates the need for complex manual settings and allows users to define different behaviors for weekdays and weekends or automatically adjust scenes at sunset. Yianni explained that natural language is an effective way for users to express their preferences, and AI translates these descriptions into a programming language that the Philips Hue Bridge uses to automate lighting. Yianni also shared excitement about several new products, including the Philips Hue Play Screen Sync. This device uses a camera with a fish-eye lens to monitor what's on a TV screen and synchronize the colors with a light strip behind the TV. This system can be used without a Philips Hue Bridge, either through Bluetooth with a single light strip or with a more affordable 4K version of the Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, which works with a single Hue light and does not require a Bridge. Yianni highlighted the impact of AI automations, calling them a “game changer” for both users and the company. He noted that these automations allow his home to behave exactly as he wants, representing a major advancement in smart home technology. Additionally, he expressed pride in the Liane 360-degree rope light, which can be draped in any shape and projects light around its entire circumference. Yianni believes this product offers unique creative possibilities for users and marks a new direction for Philips Hue in terms of design and functionality.